PROSTRATE GROUP.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18795, 17 November 1932, Page 11

PROSTRATE GROUP.

"POWER OF HEALING.” AT MISSION SERVICE. CAMPAIGN AT WELLINGTON. Prayers and religious song accompanied tl\e laying-on of hands in the Alexander Hall when followers of the Pentecostal Mission received the “healing, touch” and lay prostrate on the floor (says the Wellington Dominion). The hall was crowded, and at the climax of the service people stood on chairs and benches to better view the demonstration. Though the. attendance nearly trebled that of the previous evening the proceedings were more subdued, and for the most part those who came forward oollapsed and remained still and silent. The majority were women, one of whom, as she sank into the arms of an attendant, cried her testimony. Others lay breathing heavily, one or two muttering religious names and pious phrases. "We believe in healing as an answer to prayer,” said Mr L. J. Jones, the evangelist, who is conducting the mission, in opening the meeting. "We in this age have a right to the experiences that are spoken of in the Old Testament and the New. “The Burden of Proof.” " The burden of proof that healing is for to-day is on your side,” Mr Jones told liis audience. We are glad to start the meeting solid on God’s word. We have a right to-night to expect a manifestation of His power.” While written messages were held aloft by the evangelist prayers were uttered for the correspondents, including a woman said to be suffering from blood pressure. “You ask, why do we pray with handkerchiefs?" said Air Jones, while anointing a handkerchief. "In Acts xix, it is written that handkerchiefs and aprons were laid on the sick, and demons were cast out. The oil is just ordinary olive oil," lie added, as he busied himself with a small oilcan, "but we pray that the power of Gad shall go with this handkerchief.” "Amen, amen, Hallelujah!” came the responses. “Lord, take charge and have Thine own way," prayed the evangelist. "We pray that the whole of this beautiful land will soon be permeated with tills four-square gospel. Visit this place now with Thy power. Let it fall in a wonderful, supernatural way, Lord; move Thyself. Came down upon this meeting. Brood over it.”

Prayed Till Daylight. One. of Mr Jones’s assistants, addressing newcomers while the oolleotion was being taken up, said that at John Wesley’s meetings it was a common thing for people to be prostrated under the power of God. In expressing the hope that a spiritual revival of this description was coming to Wellington, be said that people had been spending Saturday nights in the Alexander Hall and “had prayed through until daylight” for such a tiling to come to pass. “We have, a barrister and solicitor on the platform to-night, and lie shall weigh the evidence,” said Mr Jones, in continuing ills address. "Our God is a God of the miraculous. The world has the right to see the miraculous. Why should the miraculous not be hero to-night? “The church people in Jesus’ dayhad no lime for spiritual healing,” he remarked in referring to present-day sceptics. “They took a definite stand against the Lord in Ills healing work —.against all that was supernatural, all that was miraculous. “There is no exhibition of self in tills. Nothing will happen unless God causes it lo happen. Through hands being laid upon you anything can happen to you. You’ll go home a different person, changed by llie power of God. “If you want baptism, healing or power for service we’ll lie glad to put our hands upon you. Let God have His way. Yield yourself to Him. To be afraid is a vote of no-confidence in God's power.” Vantage Points Sought. The singing of a hymn, "Pentecostal Power.” Ilial accompanies the laying--1111 iif hands, was I lii-n begun, and a * number of people moved towards liio fronl of liie ball. The remainder, including' scores win) obviously were i• in• i ' l -iI :• seekers, siood waleliiiig. or sought \all!a ge puinls at tin- sides of 1 lie iiall. | Joining ih" group ilial had formed, | Mr Junes ami i>u a*si«iauts began the I '

demonstration. As the evangelist placed liis hands on the forehead and shoulder of man or woman an assistant waited lo eatcli the swaying figure. Several apparently did not respond to the “healing touch," and stood with heads bowed white Mr Jones passed on to others. The remainder fell and lay prostrate. One woman crossed her hands on her breast and sank back rigid before the evangelist reached her. One or two women fell on their knees. Others wept. At the close of the demonstration more prayers were said, and during the final hymn the prone people showed signs of animation and rose to their feet one by one. Giving testimony before the audience one man said that as a result of previous ex- j perionces of the "healing touch" he, j his wife, and his son had been cured I of various ailments.